Best Education, General Degrees in California by ROI

Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in California

38

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$343,636

Across California programs

Average Annual Cost

$40,380

Cost of attendance

# College 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 California State University-Dominguez Hills

Grad rate: 46.7%

 +$766,142 $81,852 $15,449 N/A Full ROI →
2 California State University-Fresno

Grad rate: 55.5%

 +$668,280 $77,279 $18,650 N/A Full ROI →
3 University of Massachusetts Global +$605,570 $75,615 $33,365 N/A Full ROI →
4 California State University-Bakersfield

Grad rate: 49.5%

 +$563,690 $72,066 $18,815 N/A Full ROI →
5 California State University-Sacramento

Grad rate: 55.1%

 +$548,572 $71,700 $22,714 N/A Full ROI →
6 California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Grad rate: 66.5%

 +$538,596 $71,197 $22,672 N/A Full ROI →
7 University of California-Santa Barbara

Grad rate: 85.5%

 +$529,288 $72,142 $36,776 N/A Full ROI →
8 California State University-Stanislaus

Grad rate: 56.6%

 +$525,356 $70,122 $18,542 N/A Full ROI →
9 California State University-San Marcos

Grad rate: 55.3%

 +$489,132 $68,571 $21,144 N/A Full ROI →
10 California State University-Monterey Bay

Grad rate: 62.4%

 +$481,786 $68,691 $26,017 N/A Full ROI →
11 Sonoma State University

Grad rate: 60.1%

 +$433,302 $66,139 $24,739 N/A Full ROI →
12 California State University-East Bay

Grad rate: 45.5%

 +$422,174 $65,389 $22,803 N/A Full ROI →
13 National University

Grad rate: 44.0%

 +$413,388 $66,381 $37,116 N/A Full ROI →
14 University of San Diego

Grad rate: 82.1%

 +$410,682 $70,022 $74,879 N/A Full ROI →
15 Stanford University

Grad rate: 94.0%

 +$408,376 $70,635 $82,162 N/A Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)

A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.

Find Best Education, General Degrees by State

Browse Education, General programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.

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